Ryan Gosling 'prescribed' comedy by shrink

Ryan Gosling says he was "prescribed" to do a comedy film by his shrink

Ryan Gosling was "prescribed" to do a comedy film.

The 'Big Short' star usually opts for romantic dramas or action movies but admits he has started looking differently at what projects he takes on after he was told to do comedy by a shrink.

He told Britain's ES magazine: "What's nice with comedy is that you know it's working if it's funny. With drama you can watch people in the wings of a theatre and you don't know if they are suffering with you through your movie or they are just deeply bored. A long time ago I went to see a shrink and he wrote me a prescription that said, 'Do comedy.'"

Meanwhile, Ryan previously admitted he was a bit "nervous" about doing his own stunts in comedy crime drama 'The Nice Guys'.

He said: "I was kinda nervous doing the stunts; I've never worked a lot with guns, you know? I remember I wanted to shake every bullet ... to make sure they were all fake."

However, Ryan was thrilled to work alongside co-star Russell Crowe in the movie but it nearly didn't happen as Russell wasn't set on the role until he heard Ryan was being considered for the other lead part.

Russell shared: "I had a plan, where I would invite him [Shane Black; the director] over to my house, offer him a drink and cook him a steak, and then half-way through, I'd say, 'You know, I really thought it was something else. I'm sorry I wasted your time.' ...

"So, he arrived and I said, 'Hey, man, would you like a drink?' He said, 'I don't drink.' That was most of my plan ... Then he said, 'Ryan Gosling.' I was like, 'What?!' He said, 'Ryan Gosling. I had a meeting with him before I went to the airport. He knows it's going to be you. He wants to play the other character. What do you think of that?'"